Tri-hedral clip for steel construction

ABSTRACT

Tri-hedral clips having three symmetrical sides in right angular relationship to each other and having identically positioned openings through each side for ready attachment by plug welding or bolts to metallic building units and to each other to provide temporary support for one building component with respect to another for welding together. The clips also have utility as permanent structural units in a variety of applications.

United States Patent Geraci July 4, 1972 54] TRI-HEDRAL CLIP FOR STEEL 1,952,217 3/1934 Patton et a1 ..29/493 x CONSTRUCTION 2,404,857 7/1946 McLaren ..29/493 x 4 258 D d [72] Inventor: Francis R. Geraci, Crofton, Md. 3/1970 287/189 36 F X [73] Assignee: Ger-Bro Corporation, Glen Burnie, Md. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 Filed: May 20 19 9 1,024,029 3/1953 France ..52/285 PP 826,247 Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky Assistant ExaminerWayne L. Shedd 52 us. c1 ..287/l89.36 11, 52/665, 52/721, Ammekscrivene" Parker Scfiven" and Clarke 29/150, 29/155, 287/189.36 F, 287/189.35 51 1111.01 ..Fl6b 7/00 1 ABSTRACT [58] Field ofSearch ..287/l89.36 F, 189.35;52/283, Madmen h ps avmg three symmetncal s1des In nght angular 52/721' 665; 29/150, 493 relationship to each other and having identically positioned openings through each side for ready attachment by plug [56] References cued welding or bolts to metallic building units and to each other to UNTED STATES PATENTS provide temporary support for one building component with respect to another for weldlng together. The clips also have Troutner X utility as permanent structural units in a variety of applica- 3,399,914 9/1968 Grant 287/189 35 tiom 3,225,807 12/1965 Watkins... 287/189.36 X 1,819,287 8/1931 Goerz ..29/493 2 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 4 1972 3 674. 289

sum 10F a TRI-I-IEDRAL CLIP FOR STEEL CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to metal clips or connectors, which are particularly, though not exclusively, adapted for use in the erection of all-welded steel frame works for buildings and the like and to the method of erecting all-welded steel frame works utilizing said clips.

Metallic building frame works are composed of columns, beams and the like and the usual means for connecting members, say a beam to a column, is be welding one leg of each of a pair of angle irons to opposite sides of the beam web and then hoisting the beam until bolt holes punched in the other leg register with holes pre-punched through the flange or web of the column. Thereafter bolts are placed in the holes, usually six in number, and tightened.

The foregoing is an expensive, time-consuming process subject to error and an all-welded connection for the components of the frame work is preferred, but in order to effect a welded joint it is necessary that a member which is to be welded to another be temporarily supported or retained in a stationary position with respect to the second member until the weldment is completed. I-Ieretofore, a variety of means have been proposed for this purpose with the one most universally employed comprising a U-shaped yoke whose legs are welded to one member, say a column, with the yoke thereafter being engaged by the down-turned leg of an bshaped bracket whose other leg is welded to the bottom of the beam. This arrangement is expensive not only because it requires two difi'erent components and a variety of welding operations to provide the temporary support, but also because it requires adherence to close tolerances which are easily exceeded requiring removal and rewelding of at least one of the components. This latter problem has been met to some degree by the provision of expensive sliding arrangements for the L-shaped bracket, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,624,429, to which reference is made, which increases the complications and ultimate expense of the temporary support means.

An object of the present invention is to provide temporary support means for the described purpose which overcomes the problems and expenses of prior art support means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of erecting an all-welded steel frame.

The support means of the invention comprises a three-sided or tri-hedral clip in appearance not unlike a comer protector for use on trunks. Instead of the inner faces of the clip being used as in the case of comer protectors, the outer faces of the clip engage the work pieces such as structural columns and beams. Each side of the clip has an identically positioned opening therethrough whereby the clips may be field or shop plug welded or bolted to the respective structural components in a position wherein two of their faces may be connected together by a bolt to thus support the structural member in proper position for permanent welding to the second structural member. In addition the clips are well adapted for use as permanent structural components in the erection of a variety of metallic structures such as tanks and the like.

Referring now to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a clip constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the manner of use of the clip of the invention for connecting a beam to a column;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a broken side elevational view on a reduced scale showing the use of the clips of the present invention for use in supporting a column on a beam;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the clips of the invention for supporting a beam over a column;

FIG. 8 is a vertical crosssectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the use of the invention in connecting a channel to a column;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the invention as used for connecting a beam to a beam;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view showing the invention as used for a bracket connection;

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the invention as it would be used for connecting a purlin to a rafter;

FIG. 13 is a vertical elevational view showing the use of the invention in making a typical alignment connection;

FIG. 14 illustrates the use of a single clip of the invention for a blocking support; and

FIG. 15 illustrates the use of the invention support angle to a beam. 7

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. I, the invention comprises a unitary rigid member 10 of forged or cast weldable steel. The member is tri-hedral configuration composed of three identical sides 12, 14, 16 rigidly joined along their adjacent edges in right angular relationship with each other. The outer face of each side is flat and extending through each side is an identically positioned hole 18, 20, 22, respectively, which enable the clip to be plugged welded or bolted to two or more members which are to be connected together. The free or non-connected corners 23 of the clips are rounded to diminish chances of injury and also to aid in assuring that two clips are properly oriented with respect to each other.

Typically, one clip is first connected to a structural member which is already installed, and a second clip is connected to a second member which is to be connected to the first member already in place. For example, where a beam such as the beam 24 in FIG. 2 is to be connected to a column 26 a clip 10 is rigidly connected to the column by means of a plug weld 28 as more clearly seen in FIG. 3. The plug weld extends through the opening 18 in a side 16 of a clip in a manner well known in the art to rigidly connect the clip to the outer face of the column 26 with a second side 12 of the clip horizontal. A second clip 10' is rigidly connected to the web part 30 of a beam 32 by means of a second plug weld 34 which extends through an opening 22 in an abutting side 16' of the clip 10'. The lower side 12' of the clip 10' engages the upper side 12 of the clip 10 with the respective openings 18, 18', in the abutting sides 12, 12' being in substantial registry with each other. In accordance with the invention, the openings in the abutting sides of the clips need not register precisely but may be out of alignment with each other by an acceptable tolerance on the order of an eighth of an inch to provide a clear passage through the two sides of a size to accommodate a bolt 36 having a diameter less than the diameter of the openings 18, 18 by the pro-selected tolerance by which one opening may be out of registry with the other. Normally, the openings in those sides of the clip which are not initially fastened to the structural members by the plug welds are not utilized as shown at 20 and 20' in FIGS. 3 through 5, though under certain circumstances it might be desirable to utilize the unused openings for additional plug welds or bolts whereby structural members may be more securely fastened together.

FIGS. 6 through 15 illustrate various uses of the clip of the invention for securing one structural member to another. With few exceptions, the clips are used in tandem to support one member with respect to another in proper position for permanent welding together. In this use :a clip is connected to each of the members by a plug weld through the hole in the respective abutting sides of the clips with the two clips being arranged so that when the members are properly positioned with respect to each other for welding, two sides of the clips abut with their openings in substantial registration for the reception of a bolt. In FIG. 6 a column 40 has a clip 10 conin connecting a nected thereto by a plug weld 28 and a second clip 10' is con nected to the top of a beam 42 by a plug weld 34 with the clips 10, 10' being so positioned that when the column is seated on the beam 42 in its proper location two sides, said sides 16, 16' of the clips abut with their respective openings registering for the reception of a bolt 36.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an arrangement similar to that in FIG. 6 except that a beam 44 is supported atop a column 46 by the use of two clips 10 and 10', the first of which is connected to the underside of the flange of the beam 44 by a plug weld 28 and the other of which is connected to the top of the column by a plug weld 34 with the two clips again being joined together by a bolt 36. FIG. 9 illustrates the clips of the invention as they would be utilized in connecting a channel member to a column. As can be seen, one clip 10 is connected by a plug weld 28 to the central web of a channel 48 and the other clip 10' is connected by a plug weld 34 to the web of a beam 50, the side flanges of the channel being cut back in order to accommodate the flanges of the column in a conventional manner. FIG. 10 illustrates the use of the clips in supporting one beam on another. As before, one clip 10 is connected by a plug weld 28 to one beam 52 and the other clip 10' is connected by a plug weld 34 to second beam 54, the two clips again being connected together by means of a bolt 36.

FIG. 11 illustrates the invention for use in a bracket connection wherein one clip 10 is fixed to the bracket 56 by a plug weld 28 and the other clip 10' is connected by a plug weld 34 to the lower side of a beam 58, the clips being connected together as before by means of a bolt 36.

FIG. 12 illustrates the use of the clip of the invention for fastening a purlin 60 to the top flange of a rafter 64 to support roofing 62. As illustrated in FIG. 12, a first clip 10 may be shop plug welded as at 66 to the purlin and a second clip (not shown) is plug welded to the rafter flange with the members being assembled together in the field by a bolt 36 extending through the registering openings in the abutting faces of the clips.

FIG. 13 illustrates the use of the clips of the invention for an alignment connection. As shown, one clip 10 is connected by a plug weld 68 along the meeting line 70 at the outer end of a rafter 72 and the other clip 10 is connected by a plug weld 74 to a second rafter 76 and a bolt 36 passes through the aligned openings in the abutting faces of the clips 10, 10'.

FIG. 14 illustrates the use of a single clip 10 as a blocking support. As shown, the clip 10 is connected by a plug weld 78 to the lower end of a rater 79 and a carriage bolt 80 serves to connect a blocking member 82 to the clip 10 as shown.

FIG. illustrates the use of the clip of the invention as it might be utilized for fastening a support angle in its position of use. As shown, a clip 10 may be connected by a plug weld 84 to the underside of a flange of a beam 86 and one arm of a sup port angle 88 may be connected by a plug weld 90 to the exposed face of the clip 10 as shown. The support angle may be positioned as required to support building components generally indicated by the numeral 92.

The foregoing description of various uses of the clip of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive but the uses described illustrate the wide range of versatility of the clip of the invention in the field of steel construction.

An important feature of the clip of the invention is that where two sides are utilized for fastening the clip to structural components as would a two-sided L-shaped clip, the third side of the clip of the invention forms a strengthening stiffener. or

gusset which is absent in a two sided L-shaped clip. Additionally, with the three-sided clips where two faces abut each other as in FIG. 8 the two faces of one clip are substantially co-planar with the corresponding faces of the other clip. This arrangement facilitates positioning and alignment and minimizes error. However, as explained with reference to FIGS. 3 through 5, reasonable error in the positioning of one clip with respect to the other is permissible without impairing the effectiveness of the clips. Were L-shaped clips to be similarly employed, a clip would have to be rotated 90 with respect to the other to efiect an attachment similar to FIG. 8 and because of the lack of symmetry of such an arrangement the possibility of error is increased.

Though the clips of the invention have been primarily shown and described as they would be employed in efleeting temporary support of one structural member with respect to another for welding purposes, it will be ap arent that the clips are well adapted to use as permanent struc ural components in their own right. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate use of the clips for other than temporary retention of one member with respect to another. The clips also have utility in the construction of a wide variety of metallic members, as for example, ships, tanks, and the like, and their use is not limited merely to the erection of steel frame work.

It is believed that no further description is required for a full understanding of the invention and its uses.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in field welding of metallic structural units of allwelded frames for buildings, in combination with a pair of structural components one of which is adapted to be welded to the other along a common joint, substantially at a preselected position means for temporarily supporting one of said members at said preselected position on the other pending the completion of said welding comprising a pair of identical metallic clips, each clip having only three sides of identical size and configuration integrally joined together along adjacent edges in right angular relationship to each other, the outer faces of each of said sides being flat, an identically positioned opening through each of said sides, an outer face of one of said clips being in abutment with a face of one of said components adjacent said joint, a plug weld extending through the opening in the abutting side of said clip and rigidly connecting said clip to said first component, a side of the other of said clips being in abutment with the other of said components adjacent said joint and in a position wherein another side of said clip directly abuts a corresponding side of said first clip with the opening of the respective last mentioned sides in substantial registry and with the other two sides of said clip being substantially coplanar with the corresponding sides of the first clip, bolt means extending through said registering openings and rigidly connecting said clips together, and a plug weld extending through the opening in the side of the second clip abutting said second components and rigidly connecting said clip to said second component.

2. The connector means of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said openings through the sides of said clips are greater than the diameter of said bolt. 

1. For use in field welding of metallic structural units of allwelded frames for buildings, in combination with a pair of structural components one of which is adapted to be welded to the other along a common joint, substantially at a preselected position means for temporarily supporting one of said members at said preselected position on the other pending the completion of said welding comprising a pair of identical metallic clips, each clip having only three sides of identical size and configuration integrally joined together along adjacent edges in right angular relationship to each other, the outer faces of each of said sides being flat, an identically positioned opening through each of said sides, an outer face of one of said clips being in abutment with a face of one of said components adjacent said joint, a plug weld extending through the opening in the abutting side of said clip and rigidly connecting said clip to said first component, a side of the other of said clips being in abutment with the other of said components adjacent said joint and in a position wherein another side of said clip directly abuts a corresponding side of said first clip with the opening of the respective last mentioned sides in substantial registry and with the other two sides of said clip being substantially coplanar With the corresponding sides of the first clip, bolt means extending through said registering openings and rigidly connecting said clips together, and a plug weld extending through the opening in the side of the second clip abutting said second components and rigidly connecting said clip to said second component.
 2. The connector means of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said openings through the sides of said clips are greater than the diameter of said bolt. 